The highly anticipated Copa America final between Argentina and Colombia at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, was overshadowed by significant crowd management issues and the unexpected exit of soccer superstar Lionel Messi due to injury.
The match, originally scheduled for an 8 p.m. ET kickoff, was delayed by over an hour as chaos erupted outside the stadium. Eyewitnesses reported seeing large groups of fans, predominantly in Colombian colors, breaching security barriers and rushing past overwhelmed staff and police officers.
Miami-Dade County Police Department issued a statement addressing the situation:
“These incidents have been a result of the unruly behavior of fans trying to access the stadium. We are actively working with Hard Rock Stadium to ensure a safe environment for all those attending.”
The stadium management later claimed that “thousands of fans without tickets tried to forcibly enter the stadium,” leading to a tense standoff between security personnel and eager spectators. The situation was exacerbated by the sweltering South Florida heat, with several individuals reportedly requiring medical attention.
The chaos outside the stadium persisted even as officials attempted to regain control, with some fans climbing fences and others running in various directions once inside. The chaotic scenes raised concerns about the venue’s readiness to host matches for the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
As the match finally got underway at 9:15 p.m., attention shifted to the field, where another drama was about to unfold. Lionel Messi, Argentina’s talisman and one of the world’s greatest players, was forced to leave the game in the 64th minute due to a non-contact injury.
Messi, who had been battling fitness issues throughout the tournament, appeared to have aggravated an existing ankle problem. The 37-year-old had entered the match with the hope of securing back-to-back Copa America titles for Argentina.
However, all was not lost as Argentina still managed to win its second consecutive Copa America crown, with a 1-0 victory over Colombia.